Motor-driven brush



April zo, 1943. E, VAN HAAFTEN 2,317,314

MOTOR-DRIVEN BRUSH Filed ost.A 1'5, 1940 r. Mv

Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES-raum oFrlcE Application October. 15, 1940, Serial No. 361,326

` s claims. (01.15-28) The present invention relates to motor drivenbrushes, and more particularly to a motor driven tooth brush in which the bristle-carrying member is mounted for rotation and is adapted to be driven by an electric or other motor enclosed within a casing constituting a handle member.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision, in a motor driven brush of the type in question, of a head assembly of extremely simple design and economical manufacture, in which the bristle carrier is readily detachable and replaceable.

A further object is the provision of a head assembly in which .the rotating parts are mounted in simple bearings of relatively large bearing surface area, thus dispensing with the use of balls, rollers, or other anti-friction elements, and requiring no lubrication other than the water ordinarily employed when brushing the teeth.

A further object is the provision of a head assembly which may be taken down with the utmost ease for cleaning or other purposes, and

without the necessity of removing any screws or other like fastening means.

Other and lfurther objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is an assembly View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a complete unit constructed in accord-ance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the bristle carrier according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the ring gear to which the bristle carrier is adapted to be detachably secured; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the means employed for sealing the motor casing against entrance of moisture.

In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, refer-ence is made to the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawing and detailed descriptive language is employed. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation oi the invention is thereby intended and that various changes and alterations are contemplated such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring to the drawing, the device of the present invention comprises generally an electric motor ID of any suitable and conventional type, preferably universal, enclosed within a casing I|,

which may suitably be made in two complementary parts formed of a synthetic plastic material. The motor- I 0 may be supplied with electric energy from any suitable source through the usual twoconductor cable I2. Y

In order to prevent `the admission oi moisture tothe interior of the casing I I, the complementary halves Ila and IIb thereof are formed with peripheral semi-cylindrical grooves, as seen in Figure 5, and a cylindrical resilient sealing member I Ic, of rubber or similar material, is cemented into 'one of such grooves. The casing members I Ia and IIb are secured together, with the sealing member I Ic clamped tightly therebetween, by screws or other suitable means.

The shaft I3 of the motor l0 extends outwardly of the forward end of the casing and is supported in a sleeve bearing |4 of conventional design. The projecting portion of the shaft I3 is enclosed within a tubular casing I5, and is provided at its distal end with a pinion I3' (Figure 2) which may suitably be formed integral with the shaft I3. The tubular casing I5 may be removably secured to the casing in any suitable manner, such as by a bayonet joint or spring catch and is formed at its outer end to provide a circular eye I6, the inner surface of which provides the bearing surface for the rotating parts of the brush head assembly.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the inner surface I6' of the eye I6 is recessed adjacent one edge thereof to provide an annular lbearing surface I'l and a shoulder I8. A ring gear I9 is rotatably mounted within the bearing surface I1 and is provided with a peripheral fiange 20 which slidably engages the adjacent edge of the eye I6, the teeth of the ring gear I9 meshing with those of the pinion I3. A bristle carrier 2| is rotatably mounted within the eye I6 and loosely engages the inner surface I6' thereof. The bristle carrier` 2| is provided with a peripheral flange 22 adapted to rotate in loose contact with the adjacent edge of the eye I.

The ring gear I9 is provided at its inner edge with an annular groove 23, and the central boss 24 of the bristle carriel` 2| is similarly provided with an annular groove 25 in which is seated a resilient split washer 2S. The outer or rearward surface of the boss 24 is slightly bulged, as seen in Figure 2, and it will be readily apparent that the bristle carrier 2| may be detached from the ring gear I9 by merely pressing upon the bulged surface of the boss 24. When this is done, both the bristle carrier 2| and the ring gear I 9 may be readily lifted out of engagement with the eye I6.

Similarly, thebristle carrierv The entire head assembly is extremely convenient and economical to manufacture.

While it is preferred to employ metalior the tubular casing l5, ring gear I9, andbristle. carrier 2| it will be understood that any other' suitableV material may be employed, sucll as al synthetic plastic, compressed ber, or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what" is u claimed; asY new and desired to` Letters Patent is:

l. In Va motor-driven bruslLga; shaft,A motor means for rotating said shaft, a= tubular: casing be secured; by"

enclosing said shaft and formed'at. one end? with.

a circularV eye' providing an, annular bearing,A a ring gear mounted in said bearing, saidring: gearhaving a peripheral flange overlying one edge of said eye, toothed means carried on the adjacent end of said shaft and meshing with said ring gear, and a bristle carrier extending through said eye and ring gear and detachably secured to said ring gear, said bristle carrier having a peripheral flange adapted to overlie the edge of said eye opposite to said ring gear, whereby said gear and carrier are maintained in place relative to said eye'. l

2.. Device according to. claim 1, said"v ring gear being provided with an internal annular groove, and said bristle carrier having resilient means associated therewith for detachably engaging in said; groove.

3; IIL a motor driven brush, a brush supporting eye providing an annular bearing, an assembly mountedfin said bearing and comprising a bristle vcarrierand a ring gear separably joined through a resilient snap connection, said carrier and gear eachha-ving a ilangeA overlying; a-tfleast a portion ofY theY body of said. eye onVoppositer-sides thereof` whereby safidvassemblyis restrained'from any substantial: movement through' said eye, and;

meansffor rotating said ringvgear.

EGBERT VAN HAAFTEN'.v f 

